Method of mothproofing



Aug. 3 1926.

1,594,632 J; M. Ross ET AL l METHOD OF MOTHPROOFING Filed July 5, 1925 INVENTOR cfosf fl M T6055 .m gto I g Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT/OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. BOSS, OF NEW YORK, AND MILTON J. 3088, OF BOCKVILLE CENTER, NEW YORK; SAID JOSEPH M. ROSS ASSIGNOR '10 ISIDORE B. BOSS, OF NEW xpnx, n. Y.

Application filed July 3, 1925. Serial No. 41,809.

This invention is an improvement in methods of and apparatus for moth proofing, and more particularly in methods and apparatus applicable in the usual procedure of converting textiles from the raw to the finished state. All textiles, and particularly woolens are susceptible to the ravages of moths or moth larvae. These are hatched from eggs, which may be deposited at any stage in the life of the textile, in the yarn, in the web, or in the finished article. Many means and methods have been used to lessen the ravages, and these may be divided into two, broad classes. In the one, the methods are directed toward prevention, and in the other toward the cure of the evil.

In the former class are those methods and means intended to prevent the laying ofthe eggs upon the textile, or to check the hatching of the eggs after they are laid. In this class may be mentioned the use of camphor, naphthalene, and the like, which give off an odor offensive to the moth. Unfortunately the odors are also offensive to humans and they are slow to dissipate, which unfits the chemicals for us except when the textiles are in storage. Low temperatures inhibit the hatching of the egg, as long as the eg s are subjected to such temperatures, but t e life principle of the egg is'not destroyed, and restoration to a warmer temperature will cause the egg to hatch into a larva capa ble of producing much damage.

In the latter class are insecticides, and poisons of every character, intended to kill the moths which feed upon the textile, and to kill the larvae before they have opportunity to damage the textile to any serious extent. For obvious reasons no agent toxic to vertebrates is admissible, and those admissible must possess certain characteristics.- Among these may be mentioned absence of.

odor, inability to damage the textile by stains, COIIOSIOII and the like, and the capacity to resist dislodgment in the usual procedures to which the textile is subjected in .use, such as brushing, beating, wetting, steaming and the like.

Only by the use of such agents may satisfactory and enduring results be attained, but in order that the agent may perform its intended function to the best possible advantage, there are certain requisites in the mannet of application. It must be applied in such a manner that the possibility of damage to the goods is precluded, and the agent should be in a form to thoroughly permeate every part of the textile.

The most suitable form in which the moth proofing agent can be applied to the textile, is in the form of gas; In such form the molecules of the agent are loosely associated, and they easily penetrate the meshes and interstices of the textile, to form an intimate association with the fibres thereof. This form also readily lends itself to association with the usual steps in the usual process of conversion, which is desirable for economic reasons. I

The agents available for application in the gaseous state are those of a volatile nature, but only such as are stable at relatively high temperatures, may be relied upon to provide a permanent effect. To be permanently effective, the agent should be stable at ordinary temperatures, in order that it may not dissipate by evaporation, and it should be insolublein water, or if soluble applied with a suitable mordanting agent, to preclude dislodgment .by subsequent operations, to which the textile is su bjected, such as steaming.

The agents at present in use, do not possess the characteristics adapting them for application in the preferred manner above pointed out. Neither are they of a character such that their application to the textile may be associated with the usual procedures followed in the conversion of the textile from the raw to the finished state, without involving a departure from such procedures. Application of such agents involves a se aratehandling, and as a consequence add tional expense.

In some stage of the normal procedure of conversion from the raw material into the finished article, textiles of substantially every character, and particularly woolens, are subjected to the action of steam, as a step in the process of manufacture. With substantially all goods it is applied to the web during the brushing thereof, after the completion of the weaving. Such materials ticularly woolens, are treated with steam in the process of shrinking, land certain types of goods are steam finished to provide luster. Floor coverings such as rugs and carpets, are treated with steam during the operation of sizing.

After the web has been converted into garments, the garments are steamed and pressed, and this operation is repeated during the life of the garment, at intervals varying in accordance with the taste or means of the wearer.

Steam as used in any of the processes above referred to provides a convenient, eiii'cient and economical means to a ply moth proofing agents of a volatile na ure, since it can be utilized, not only to heat and volatilize, but as well to transport the agent to the point of application.

A primary object 0 tion is the rovision of a method of moth proofing inc iuding the use of a substance volatile at temperatures higher than the normal, and volatilized, and transported to the textile by the steam used in the usual processes of conversion from the raw to the finished state.

Another object is the provislon of a method of impregnating textiles with a moth proofing composition in a simple and inexpensive manner applicable in any stage of the life of the textile. I

Another object is the provision of a method of permanently impregnating the textiles with the composition at some stage during the conversion thereof from the raw to the finished article, applicable during such process, and without departure from accepted methods of conversion.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus for applying-the composition at a selected stage in the conversion of the textiles, or after conversion, capable of utilizing the usual processes in applying the composition to the textile.

Another object is the provision of a new and improved composition, substantially odorless, non-corrosive, and non-staining, toxic to moths and moth larva and nontoxic to vertibrates, and permanent in its nature.

To the accomplishment of these and other objects, the invention consists in the method, the several steps thereof the composition, and the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter,- illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without'departing from the spirit, of the invention.

In application Ser. No. 728,421, filed July 25, 1924, a method of moth proofing texthe present inven- In the present method, the agents used are volatile, and the method contemplates the incorporation of the agent in the liquid from which the steam used to treat the textile in some stage of the normal procedure is derived, so that the steam or vapor will be derived in part from the agent. Or the steam maybe utilized to raise the temperature of the agent to the degree of volatilizat-ion, and to transport the vapor to the point of utilization.

Any substance may be used having'the characteristics essential in a moth proofing agent as indicated above. That is toxic to insect life, and in reasonable quantities harmless to vertebrates, non-corrosive, stainless, substantially inodorous, volatile, and not freely soluble in water.

.Such substances include the derivatives of benzol (benzene), and in particular the substitution products, such as benzaldehyde, dinitrobenzol, dinitrochlorbenzol, paradichlorbenzol, and phenol. The latter however is not suitable foruse by itself, because of its odor, and because it is a corrosive. It is however of advantage when combined with the others, the proportion of phenol being relatively small.

Benzaldehyde, C H COH which for sev eral reasons is preferable, is a thin, colorless, fragrant, volatile liquid. The odor resembles that of oil of bitter almonds. It is aromatic with a burning taste, and is pre pared from toluene of methyl benzene, by conversion of the methyl group into the aldehyde grou Benzaldehyde may be regarded as a form of aldehyde in which one of the hydrogen atoms has been displaced by a phenol group. It has a specific gravity of 1.0504 at 15 degrees C., a boiling point of 179 degrees The dinitrobenzol is slightly soluble in water, soluble in alcohol, and used in organic synthesis and dye stuffs. It has a-strong afiinity for wool, and for this reason, and because of its high boiling point its use is sometimes of advantage.

Paradichlorbenzol which is an industrial by product, has a specific gravity of 1.526, a melting point of'about 63 degrees 0., and aboiling point of about 173.7 degrees, and give excellent result when used in the proportion of about In its normal form it is crystalline in appearance, and is non-soluble in water, dissolving however, in benzol, ether, hot alcohol, and carbon bisulphate.

The three first named substances give excellent results when used alone, but ether with advantage may be combined with a very small quantity of phenol, as for instance about to 1%. This compound (carbohc acid) is a benzene derivative, and a substitution product. While theodor is unpleasant, it does not persist, and when used in the small quantities mentioned, is barely perceptible. Because of the extreme dilution, there is no possibility of injury to vetebrates, nor of injury to the goods.

A preferred apparatus for carrying out the method is shown in the drawings, in which the single figure is a vertical section through a boiler, provided with the improved apparatus.

In the present embodiment of the invention a casing is provided of dimensions in accordance with the use to which it is to be put, the said casing including a relatively large lower steam generating compartment,

and relatively small upper chemical holding compartment.

Preferably the casing is composed of three sections, a lower section 1, an upper section 2, and a cover 3, the parts being secured together by bolts and nuts 4, engaging flanges 5 on the respective parts. The upper and lower compartments are provided for b a transverse partition 6, arranged at suc height, that the upper compartment has about f; the capacity of the lower, although the relative size of the compartments is dependent upon conditions.

The casing is supported by legs 7, and a gas ring 8 is arranged below thecasing, the ring being supplied by a supply pipe 9. The steam generated in the lower 'compartment is conducted by means of a pipe 10 to a super-heater 11 arranged above the gas ring, and between the same and the bottom of the casing, and a pressure gage 12 is connecteclwith the pipe 10 by means of a valved branch pipe 13.

From the super-heater the steam is conducted by a pipe 14; into the upper compartment, delivering into the said compartment through a perforated cross 15 arranged near the bottom of the compartment. The flow of the steam from the super-heater to the cross is controlled by a needle valve 17, in a valve casing 18, interposed in the pipe 14.

- The vaporized composition flows iron.

the upper compartment to the place of utilization through a suitable pipe 19, and the casing 'at this compartment is preferably provided with a heat insulating jacket 20. The cover 3 has a filling opening normally closed by a plug 21, and a similar opening is provided for the lower com;- partment, being normally closed by a plug 22. Each compartment has a water gage 23 and 24 respectively, in connection therewith, for indicating the quantity of liquid therein, and a safety valve 25 1s provided for the lower compartment.

The boiler usually used in steam press- ,ing machines, or substantially any other boiler may be easily provided with the chemical chamber, which may be attached thereto in any suitable or desired manner. This however is not essential, the proximity of the chemical chamber to the boiler being merely a matter of convenience, since it is obvious that the super-heated steam might be conducted any reasonable distance to pass through the chemical chamber. There are obvious advantages however, in arranging the chamber above the boiler, and as a part thereof, in order to utilize the heat of the boiler. g

In operation the upper chamber is supplied with the moth proofing composition, which may be introduced into the chamber in the solid state, or in the liquid as may be desired. As the water heats, the composition will dissolve, and when the pipe 19 is opened, the valve 17 being adjusted to the desired opening, the steam will rush from the cross 15, driving up through the moth proofing composition, vaporizing some of the same, and carrying it along to be de-' posited upon the textile. The heat from the boiler retains the composition at -or near boiling temperature, and at a temperature so high that the entrance of the superheated steam easily converts a portion thereof into vapor.

The textile may be treated with theimpregnated steam, either during the conversion thereof from the raw to the finished the chamber 2 in the dry state, followed with or preceded by a quantity of water, estimated to provide a suitable proportion of the composition vapor. When the temperature of the chamber passes the melting point of the composition, it if solid becomes liquid, and forms with the water a mixture or emulsion in which there is the desired proportion of the moth proofing agent.

The improved apparatus easily may be made portable, which is merely a uestion of size, and it is particularly adapte in the portable form for use in moth proofing in the home, or in public buildings, with but little expense. While the 1gas ring is shown as a heating means, it wi 1 be evident that any. other type of burner may be used with equal facility. As for instance an electric burner to be supplied with current from the house circuit.

We claim:

1. The method of mothproofing textiles, which consists in softening and expanding the fibres of the textile with steam laden with a volatile benzene derivative including phenol volatilized -by the steam, thereby to intimately incorporate the agent with the fibres of the textile.

2. The method of mothproofing textiles, which consists in softening and expanding the fibres of the textile with steam laden with a volatile benzene derivative including phenol, in the proportion of about 5% of the first and to 1% of the second, volatilized by the steam, thereby to intimately incorporate the agent with the fibres of the textile.

3. The method of mothproofing textiles, which consists in softening and expanding the fibres of the textile with steam impregnated with volatilized benzaldehyde and phenol to thereby intimately incorporate the agents with the fibres, of the textile.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 1st day of July A. D. 1925.

JOSEPH M. ROSS. MILTON J. ROSS. 

